Wednesday, 19 August 2015

My Top Ten Essentials for a rainy UK summer holiday...x

"Are we nearly there yet?"

Said me, a billion times

I love holidays. I love planning them, I obsess over packing for them and I count down using the 'Sleeps' method. So when we were asked by my lovely in laws to spend a week in Cardigan Wales, we jumped at the chance. I was so giddy, Henry was going to finally meet his cousins, put his little piggies in the sea, build sandcastles with Daddy and get cuddles from his Nana & Granpa.

Holiday in pics x

So car packed to the brim with all our summer attire, we headed South to Cardigan Bay. Now dear reader, I want to pass on some recently acquired wisdom...

If the weather is rubbish in England, the weather is rubbish in Wales.

All my tan building dreams went out the window with our bucket & spade, swimsuits and factor 50. The weather was grim. Thankfully we all had a good sense of humour about it all and still had a memorable holiday. Here are my top packing essentials for creating your own rainbow amongst the clouds.

1. A smile on your face

“Smiling stimulates our brain’s reward mechanisms in a way that even chocolate,

Plus smiles are very infectious. You smile, Nana smiles, the kids smile and even my grumpy husband smiles...mmmm chocolate...

2. Games
I spent much of my childhood playing black jack, chase the ace, dirty mary (not a child proof name that one) and cheat. Therefore in my adult life, I loath card games, but add a board and i'm anyones. The game of the holiday was Sequence. "I don't like it...I love it"

3. Wellies

Flip flops and fancy sandals are so last year. As in, pre baby when you went abroad and had the option to show off your pedicure. Wellies are the new beach wear

4. Cagoule

An oversized scarf (even beautifully printed) and a lightweight parka just won't cut it I'm afraid. Plus who has time to carry a bag with a baby? Make sure it has a hood (feel free to add a touch of red lip, as thats all people will see this holiday.

5. Snuggley warm oversized socks

Wear them for bed, wear them for breakfast, wear them under wellies, wear them for dinner, wear them in the shower. Burr

6. A good pair of jeans (not your favourite)

Wear them for bed, wear them for....you get the point. These will be binned as soon as you get home. Unless you've got a holiday to Ireland or Scotland planned, crap weather still applicable.

7. Baby Bjorn (other baby carrier brands applicable)

All those quint little hills, cobbled streets & sandy beaches you imagined pre-holiday, have no time for your Silver Cross. Leave it at home. Fill the boot with booze instead.

8. Kirby grips

So you've planned a pre-holiday blow dry ready for the family album, save your pennies, or better still buy a hat. Kirby grips literally saved my curls from mimicking the scarecrows out in the fields. Pack a good conditioner too, just for when its your turn in the shower you have an excuse for an extra 5 minutes of peace.

9. Scented candles

Due to the dreary weather you will find yourself spending that little bit extra time indoors. And lets me honest, holiday lets always have that lived in musty smell. So all those candles you've been saving for a rainy day, get lighting them and fill the air with roses/lavender/vanilla/pomegranate noir (delete were applicable)

10. And by no way least...alcohol (please drink responsibly)
Daddy and I tag teamed our nights to have a little drink and to look after Little Monkey. I so enjoyed my glass or two of Prosecco with dinner. Bubbles & rain are the perfect summer holiday tipple.

Been on holiday lately? Share your tips for surviving good or bad weather x